James William MacDonald (27 January 1811 – 1 December 1881)[1] was a politician in colonial South Australia and served as Treasurer of South Australia.
[2] He emigrated, in 1839, to South Australia, where he settled in the Sturt district.
[2] In 1841 he was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands,[2] a nominated member of the unicameral South Australian Legislative Council from 1 July 1844 to 31 January 1846[1] and in 1844-45 was Treasurer.
[2] After acting as Visiting Magistrate in the north, he was for a number of years Magistrate at Burra, and ultimately Commissioner of Insolvency for four years.
[2] Retiring on a pension, he resided at the Sturt till 1880, when he returned to England, where he died in the suburbs of London, on 1 December 1881.